The document summarizes research on existing gaming magazines. It analyzes magazines like Official Xbox Magazine, Dengeki PS2 Magazine, and Edge Magazine. Some common features identified are big bold titles stating the magazine name, unique font styles, and background images related to popular games. The research will inform the creation of the author's own gaming magazine, including a big title, unique font, background image of an upcoming game, and subheading relating to the background.

1. Research
Your Name

2. Existing Product
Magazine summary
Official Xbox magazine is the name of this existing product. The magazine was created
in 2001 after the release of the first Xbox console and has evolved quite a lot. The
magazine is a monthly news about video games which are on the Xbox. This means they
wont make news about Nintendo games nor play station exclusive games. The
magazine has various content such as we heart Xbox which includes new games which
were not yet shown to the mainstream public or user-modified hardware such as
consoles or faceplates were shown here. Xbox next includes upcoming games are
highlighted and previewed. Xbox now is a section about every Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox
Live Arcade game, and downloadable content is reviewed. And a lot more other
content.
Title
The title is quite big a out stinging which would grab Xbox fans attention however the
dark souls design is slightly covering it. This is why they added the huge Xbox symbol
beside it on the top left corner which is more recognizable than the title. Underneath
the title it says “the official magazine”. This is to state that Xbox have issues of their
own magazine that u can buy.
Sub heading
There is also a sub title which sums up why dark souls is on the front cover of the issue.
It has the dark souls name in a big white font in order to contrast the dark background
and stand out for readers to locate it quickly. The text underneath explains with a
informal description of why dark souls is on the front cover. It then ends with a
rhetorical question to intrigue the reader the turn the page.
Design
The design is from the front cover of the dark souls three game which is of a difficult
boss from the game. The magazine would use the front cover the game as it is iconic to
the eye. This would catch dark souls fans attention. The design over all has been done
quite creatively as they have made it seem 3d by making the characters head layer over
the title and the body to go underneath other text on the page.
Audience appeal
This magazine would clearly most likely to appeal towards Xbox players as the magazine
only looks at Xbox games and exclusives and not play station exclusives nor Nintendo
games. The magazine also looks more in depth into the Xbox content such consoles,
games and news. This could also attract parents on certain occasions such as Christmas
and birthdays in order to browse for gifts for their kids. This certain magazines cover
will attract fans who are into the dark souls franchise. It can attract an older audience as
the front cover has a dark and sinister looking game that will be appealing however it
can also attract a younger audience as they are also advertising the Lego star wars
game.

3. Existing Product
Magazine summary
This magazine is called Dengeki PS2 which is a special edition version of Dengeki PlayStation
that was published about three or four times a year in irregular intervals. It was first
published on 1997 under the title Dengeki PlayStation D and was changes to the current title
in 2001 until the final issue in 2008. The magazine mainly featured information on the
PlayStation 2, but also carried information about games for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation
Portable as well. They have also made a play station magazine for girls published in 2003 to
attract more audiences but then dropped in 2007. They even have a separate magazine for
Play station portables (PSP) called Dengeki PSP which only specializes for PSP content. The
content overall is a lot like the Xbox magazine but play station related.
Title
The title is big and bold with a unique font style that isn't like other fonts which makes it
stand out even more. The yellow color contrasts with the background making it look more
appealing than the other magazines. The title also has a lightening bolt going through it that
isn't like the other volumes making this certain volume either special or every volume has a
unique title from the rest.
Sub title
The subtitle is Japanese however as it shows the roman numerals for seven I can tell that the
title is final fantasy 7 which is related to the background. This means that when the reader
wants to know what the background is about, they can read the sub title. It also has a
description underneath it stating what its about in an informal sentence. This then gets the
reader curious to read more. They have made the text color stands out because it has
contrasting color to the background.
Design
The background design is a design of characters from a game called final fantasy 7 which is a
play station exclusive game that isn't available for Xbox nor Nintendo. This shows that they
want to sell this game as well as their console. The background is also not a in game image
nor a cover of the game instead it seems like the design is made for the magazine making it
more unique and rarer. Its also very artistic as it isn't digitally made and looks to be a water
color painting.
Audience appeal
This magazine would clearly most likely to appeal towards Play station players as the
magazine only looks at PS games and exclusives and not Xbox exclusives nor Nintendo
games. The magazine also looks more in depth into the Play station content such consoles,
games and news. This could also attract parents on certain occasions such as Christmas and
birthdays in order to browse for gifts for their kids. I think it will mostly attract a younger
audience as the cover is bright and the characters have a cartoony look to it.

4. Existing Product
Magazine summary
Edge is a multi-format video game magazine published by Future plc in the United
Kingdom, which publishes 13 issues of the magazine per year. It is known for its industry
contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly
awards and longevity. The magazine was launched in October 1993 by Steve Jarrett, a
long-time video game journalist who has launched several other magazines for Future.
The artwork for the cover of the magazine's 100th issue was specially provided by Shigeru
Miyamoto. The 200th issue was released in March 2009 with 200 different covers, each
commemorating a single game; 199 variants were in general circulation, and one was
exclusive to subscribers. Only 200 magazines were printed with each cover, sufficient to
more than satisfy Edge's circulation of 28,898 Each issue includes a "Making-of" article on
a particular game, usually including an interview with one of the original
developers. Issue 143 introduced the "Time Extend" series of retrospective articles. Like
the "making-of" series, each focuses on a single game and, with the benefit of hindsight,
gives an in-depth examination of its most interesting or innovative attributes. Codeshop"
examines more technical subjects such as 3D modelling programs or physics middleware,
while "Studio Profile" and "University Profile" are single-page summaries ("like Top
Trumps, but for game dev") of particular developers or publishers, and game-related
courses at higher education institutions.
Title
The title is big and bold like most title on magazines to state there company. The unique
look of the title is that it seems to have it have a certain font style only for this magazine.
The font itself suits the name “edge” as it looks sharp. This also looks quite sci-fi which is
suitable for the gaming theme. The colour of the font is orange on this certain magazine
as it contrast with the background. The colour of the font always changes on each issue in
order to fit the background. Underneath the title is a slogan that states “ the future of
interactive entertainment” which summarises the magazine in a cool way.
Sub title
The sub title states the name of the background image which is the “the last of us” in big
bold letters. The lets the audience navigate easily navigate towards the top content of
the magazine. The text is laid out along side the left side of the cover and the right side of
the characters face. This is very well designed and shows that its related the background
image. Underneath the big title there is a quick summary about the game “the uncharted
team unleashes the apocalypse”. This summary is done in a informal pun way as it names
a poplar game which would be similar and they then say unleash the apocalypse giving a
twist.
Audience appeal
This magazine would defiantly appeal to all gamers that play on different consoles as the
content looks at a majority of games and different types. This would also appeal to ages
from 6-35 as they look at kids games as well as older games. They don’t look at offensive
sexual games as that wont be suitable for children but they do look at violent games that
may offend people. This could also attract parents on certain occasions such as Christmas
and birthdays in order to browse for gifts for their kids

5. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched products
have?
– There are a lot of common features with all these different types of magazines within the layout and
the game theme. For example they all have a big bold title stating there company and they all use
unique font types giving iconic features to there company. The big bold titles only make sense as all
magazines have them. The magazines also have a sub heading that relates to the background image
which would be the top content of the magazine. The subheadings are always big and bold so that
the audience can easily navigate to it. They also state the name of the background image game.
• What aspects of the research will you include within
your on work?
– For my final product I will be adding a lot of things that will relate to my research. For example the
big unique titles stating my company and I will use unique font type giving iconic features to my
company. The big bold titles only make sense as all magazines have them.
– I will defiantly have the background of an upcoming new game as that will be easy to make
information about in my dps.
– I will also have a sub heading that relates to the background image which would be the top content
of the magazine. The subheadings will be big and bold so that the audience can easily navigate to it.
It will also state the name of the background image game.
– I will have to add the issue number as its important for the audience to know how many we have and
that they can buy more.

6. Audience

7. Audience Profile
Category Demographic Content to appeal to this audience
Age Range 16-34
• My magazine will first only appeal to the ages 16-34 as my
magazine is focusing on dark souls as the age range is for 16 or
over. I don’t think people around 34 or older are interested in
gaming as they don’t have time to play games however there are
parents who would buy my magazine to browse for gifts for their
children.
Gender Male and female
• The gender for the magazine would stereo typically be for boys
however as gaming progresses more and more females play
games. This means I will class my magazine to be for both genders
Psychographic Emulators
• My magazine might be for the emulator as the magazine teaches
you how to play the game dark souls which means it will help you
be an achiever.
Social Status D class
• My social status will be for the D class as they will have enough
money for my magazine and for the games I will be talking about.
They might also have the time to read it and play the games.